*Rashmi Pov*

"Is it fine?" Dad asked Chitra immediately when she took a bite of the breakfast he made.

"I told you that I will make it, right. Let me prepare the food at least when I am here." I said looking at him.

"It's nice, Uncle." She replied, smiling at him.

"You don't usually wake up for breakfast during the holidays, right. So, I prepared it even though you said that yesterday." He mumbled finishing his food.

"She has a special reason to wake up early during this week." Chitra commented teasing me and I glared at her.

"It's a good thing that she changed her habit for your sake." He said nodding returning to us.

"Dad! You still didn't tell me the reason I am asking from the past half an hour." I said frowning at him.

"What is your question?" he asked frowning back.

"You were very rude to Karthik yesterday. Will you act the same during this whole week?" I asked, hoping it is not true.

"Dad! He is my friend." I pointed out when he stayed silent.

"So? I need not like all your friends." Saying that he took his bag and walked out after nodding at Chitra.

I sat stunned after hearing him while he just calmly left saying all that. How can I tell him right now that Karthik is not just my friend but my boyfriend?

"Now, what will you guys do?" Chitra asked, but I have no reply to give her.

She sent a message to Kalyan that my Dad left and we both waited for them to come. Maybe he will react normally if I just say I am dating right now.

But I am not sure that it will result like that even if I tell everything. What should I do? I thought holding my head and we heard the door bell.

"What happened to her?" I glanced up to see them staring at me.

"All the best, Karthik." Chitra said, shaking her head and took her bag to leave.

"I will drop her back safely this evening and please take care of him." Kalyan said smiling at me.

"I will take care of your boyfriend and you just take care of my girlfriend." I said, waving him off making the laugh and they left while Karthik sat beside me closing the door.

He didn't say anything or ask, but just sat there in silence. I finally sat straight before turning to look at him smiling.

"Shall we start the work?" I asked, still smiling and he nodded with a curious look, but took out the papers not asking much.

"I will get something for us." I said, standing up feeling tired after sitting continuously for three hours and he nodded standing up along with me.

"Shall we have lunch outside?" he asked following me to the kitchen.

"My Dad already cooked in the morning itself. We can have it here only as he cooked for Chitra too." I replied, taking out the biscuit packet and passed it to him.

"Are you really fine with working like this, Rashmi?" he asked looking at me.

"Yeah! I will lie, saying I love it because I really thought I will work after college, but this is also good as I can spend time with you. And it will be easy after finishing our studies." I pointed out.

"However, it would be nice if we spend more time together for our sake rather than just for work." I added honestly and he nodded listening to me.

We started the work again and took a break to finish our lunch. After some time I felt tired and decided to take a nap sitting beside him while he asked me to go to my room and sleep.

"Don't you want to rest?" I asked, looking at him and stood up.

"I will sleep here then." He replied, gesturing the small couch.

"You can use my Dad's bed." I offered, knowing well he will not be comfortable with this at all.

"Er... no!" he mumbled clearing his throat and I know he is thinking about yesterday.

"Come! I will show you my room." I said holding his hand and he nodded following me.

"It is completely suitable for you." He said looking around.

"Why?" I asked him frowning.

"The color shade and the lighting is so subtle that I am feeling drowsy right now." He replied looking at me smiling.

"Maybe it is my room's fault that I sleep so much." I said nodding at him.

"Now, take some rest here." I added, pushing him to lay down while he abided to my instruction and laid down, but held my hand when I moved to leave the room.

"You can stay here too." He said, moving a little and pulled me down.

"Fine! But we need to wake up within an hour." I mumbled lying beside him and it suddenly felt awkward to sleep like that.

"Hell with it!" he suddenly mumbled and turned over to his side before placing his hand around me and pulled me into his arms.

"Karthik! I really don't understand something. When we were lying on the bed with some space between us, it felt really awkward. But now it feels normal." I said, turning into his hold to stare at his face.

"Even I felt the same. But I don't know the exact reason and I don't think we need to know it." He pointed out and I nodded smiling before closing my eyes.

"You know I am suddenly thinking what would we have done if we had single beds during the trip." He commented.

"They wouldn't have don't that to us. It would have definitely been separate for us even if they had single ones." I said smiling.

"I know! I am just thinking what if." He explained.

"Just go to sleep, Karthik." I mumbled drifting off into sleep along with him.

****

"Did you miss me, Chitra?" I asked, opening the door smiling at both of them.

"You are one to talk, Rashmi. What did you both do alone in this house for the whole day?" she asked smirking.

"Did they end up liking you at least a pinch for today's outing?" I asked back walking inside with them following me and she scowled at me when I glanced at her.

"Don't forget about your Dad, Rashmi." She pointed out and this time I scowled at her.

"It's not like there is a rule for him to like me straight away." Karthik assured me but he doesn't understand the main problem.

"He doesn't like you as her friend, Karthik. What will happen if he knows you are her boyfriend?" Chitra asked, looking at him, frowning and thank god she is thinking just like me.

"Spend some time with him and he will like you." Kalyan said, looking at him and we all nodded thinking that will be the best.

However, that turned out to be a complete failure as he just returned home and went into his room after greeting Kalyan and Chitra. I groaned, sitting down and slapped my forehead.

"Maybe I exaggerated too much to him, but it was all those years back. Why is he still serious about it?" I asked myself feeling dejected.

"Looks like your wish is going to get fulfilled, Rashmi." Kalyan suddenly commented making me frown.

"Wasn't it you wish to have a disagreement with your Dad about something serious at least one? You finally got your chance." He explained and I immediately glared at him.

"I will talk to him tomorrow." Karthik assured me and left with Kalyan while I took care of the documents he decided to leave back.

"Dad! You know I am working with him right now. Why are you asking me to not allow him to be here?" I asked raising my voice.

"Rashmi! We have guest in this house. So, just behave." He said, frowning at him.

"Please forget about everything that happened so long ago. It's all in the past and you know he is really a close friend of mine. I never thought you will behave like this with him." I said, pleading him, but he didn't budge at all.

Next four days Karthik and I became closer to each other, but we still couldn't get my Dad to even say a single word to him.

"Don't worry, Rashmi!" Karthik said, rubbing my shoulder when I placed my head on his shoulder feeling stressed.

"How can I not? You will leave within two days and we will not have a chance for him to understand you anytime soon." I pointed out.

"I will come here for next semester holidays and the next and every time I will be here with you for a few days whenever you return home. One day he will accept me, right. And we still didn't tell him that we are dating." He said, assuring me.

"I don't know why he is so stubborn right now." I mumbled groaning.

"I can understand, Rashmi. You must have looked hurt because of what happened and he has every right to be angry at the person who had hurt her daughter." He said smiling and I slowly smiled leaning forward pressing my lips to his.

"We are in your home and your Dad still didn't accept me, but you are kissing me." He teased, smiling at me and I raised my eyebrow looking at him.

"You are right! Then let's not kiss until he accepts you." Saying that I stood up and took a few steps to reach the kitchen but he held my hand pulling me back.

"You forgot that we shouldn't even hold our hands." I said, taking my hand away and turned around to stare at him while he is still smiling at me.

"Really?" he asked, stepping forward and I took a step back nodding.

"I can't do this too, right?" he asked, pressing me to the wall and I nodded smiling before turning my head away.

"Not even this?" this time he pressed his lips on my neck and my breath hitched feeling that.

"No!" I whispered clearing my throat.

"I don't think it will be a problem." He whispered pestering kisses long my neck and bit my skin.

"Karthik!" I mumbled holding his face and turned to press my lips to him and he smiled, kissing me back pressing me more to the wall.

"Rashmi!" we heard a shout and immediately stilled.

"Crap!" I whispered and he immediately moved away while I just stared at the floor clearing my throat and finally glanced up to see Dad, Kalyan and Chitra standing near the door staring at us.

"What is the meaning of this?" he asked frowning.

"Dad! He... he is my boyfriend." I finally replied looking at him.

"What? Did you forget how much you cried last time because of him? And why didn't you tell me about this until now?" he asked in complete angry mode which I never saw him in.

"Calm down, Dad! I wanted to tell you directly instead of a call. And all that was in the past in which he is not at fault." I replied walking towards him.

"We are sorry about all this." Karthik apologized while I made my Dad sit down.

"It is not his fault? Did you forget that you even got that title like... what is that... right! One week girlfriend!" he said, frowning at me while I sat beside Karthik on the couch and our friends sat near the dining table.

"You even told him that?" Karthik asked in a whisper and I nodded clearing my throat.

"Uncle! Whatever happened that time was very unexpected and I regret that she had to suffer like that. But I love her so much. We are ready to wait for your blessings." He said looking at my Dad.

"Why do you like my daughter suddenly?" Dad asked frowning.

"I realized that I love her when she became my real one week girlfriend." Karthik replied honestly while I groaned.

"What? You acted as a girlfriend with him?" he asked, frowning and I nodded.

"Even she has the doubts you have at present, Uncle. That's why I am just her one week boyfriend each week and we are crossing one week after other knowing each other." Karthik just continued like no one else is reacting to each word he is uttering.

However, my Dad's expression changed slightly hearing those words. I glanced at both of them and finally realized I need to add my words too.

"Dad! I am in love with him." I said, looking straight at Dad and ignored the way Karthik turned to stare at me in shock while my friends were in shock from the moment all this started so their expression was the same.

"Are you sure, Rashmi? Did you think about everything?" Dad asked after a few minutes of silence.

"Yes! I don't have a single doubt anymore. I had my own thoughts, but after these few months, I don't have those hesitations anymore." I replied staring at him.

"And his parents already liked me." I added and this time he relaxed a little.

"Fine! I will start keeping my own thoughts because of past away and start knowing him." He finally said and I screamed jumping up.

"Thank you, Dad!" I said rushing towards him and knelt beside him smiling.

"I didn't say yes." He pointed out.

"It's okay! Karthik already said he is ready to wait as long as you want." I assured him.

"That's good!" he mumbled nodding and glanced at Karthik with a skeptical look.

"He is a good person, Uncle." Kalyan finally joined the conversation.

"We can't find such character that easily and he loves Rashmi too much no matter how much she tortured him." Chitra added and I didn't take her words seriously knowing well she is trying to help us.

"I already know he is a good person. I just didn't want to talk with the person who didn't think my daughter is good enough for him." My Dad said shrugging and I smiled hearing that.

"You are really a cool Dad, Uncle." Karthik said finally smiling after this conversation started.

"You both will not spend time here alone anymore." He warned looking at Karthik.

"You both can spend these two days together." I said, nodding at them and walked to the kitchen to get him water.

"Oh my god! I can't believe your Dad just witnessed your makeout session." Chitra commented following me to the kitchen.

"Even I can't believe that. Why are you here suddenly? There was still one hour for you guys to come home and even my Dad is way early." I asked looking at her.

"Kalyan's Dad took us to show one of the factory and we met your Dad at that time. He decided to come along with us and we just came early." She replied shrugging.

"You know I am acting like nothing happened right now, but it is really embarrassing that my Dad saw that." I said groaning.

"It's okay! You guys were not doing worse." She said laughing.

"Shut up!" I mumbled carrying the water near to my Dad while they were talking busily.

After some time, Kalyan and Karthik left while we both walked into my room and my Dad sat down watching television.

For the next two days, Dad and Karthik spent the time and he even had to go to the factory for some time to meet him but we stopped working alone. However, we worked when Dad returned home and Chitra stayed with Kalyan longer than the past few days.

Finally, it was the day for them to return to Kanpur. Chitra is very happy to get the acceptance from Kalyan's parents, but I am stressed as Dad didn't talk anything about Karthik with me.

"Call me after you guys reach." I said, waving at them and the train started moving.

"Don't worry, Rashmi! It felt like your Dad spent good time with Karthik and I am sure he already liked him." Kalyan assured driving me back to my home.

"I hope so!" I mumbled and walked into my home waiting for Dad to return.

"Dad! What do you think about him?" I asked, looking at him finally not able to stop myself during dinner.

"He is just like how you described him all the time, but a little differently." He replied and just continued to eat.

What is the meaning behind that statement? I frowned and finished my dinner before returning to my room.

****

"Are you done with your packing?" Dad asked, looking at my suitcase.

"Yes! Kalyan will be here after some time." I replied, glancing at the clock.

Already one week passed after Karthik left from here, but I didn't hear any answer from Dad. Karthik too didn't ask me what my Dad decided and I know he is doing that to not stress me but I am definitely stressed.

"What will you do if I reject him, Rashmi?" Dad suddenly asked.

"We will wait for your decision to change." I replied, looking at him calmly, even though my heart skipped a beat hearing that.

"But I already got many marriage proposals for you which I stalled until now. What if I forced you to meet them?" he asked frowning.

"You will never force me for that, Dad. Just like I will never force you to accept Karthik and will say to give him a chance and remember he is not at fault for whatever happened. If he was then even I am at fault regarding Kalyan." I replied and explained about his crush when he asked me what I mean by that.

"Looks like he is here." He said when we heard the door bell and helped me to carry the suitcase to Kalyan's car.

"Just think about what I said." I whispered, hugging him and got into Kalyan's car before he drove us off.

"Still no decision?" he asked after some time and I nodded sighing.

We reached by evening and I called my Dad informing about that before messaging our friends as they wished to meet after we returned.

"I am finally going to see your flat, Kalyan." I said when he reached the apartment where they are staying.

"It is not mine, just because I chose it. Even Karthik is paying the rent." He pointed out locking the car and we both got into the elevator and my phone buzzed.

I opened the message frowning and smiled seeing it. I lost it and frowned when we were walking to his flat and rang the bell.

"Finally, you guys are here." Mehrin said, opening the door and I hugged her tightly making my face blank.

"What happened?" she asked worriedly.

"Where is he?" I asked, moving back and glanced behind her to see him staring at me.

"Karthik!" I mumbled, walking towards him and he nodded, pulling me into his arms hugging tightly.

"It's okay! We will give the time he needs to accept us." He assured me.

"What to do, Karthik? He already accepted us." I said in a dull tone.

"I know! I can under..." he paused, finally understanding my words and released me to stare at me in shock.

"He just sent me a message saying he is happy with our relationship." I explained, smiling and he still stared at me in shock.

"I think he stopped breathing." Rohan commented hitting his back.

"Are you serious?" he finally asked and I nodded still smiling.

He finally laughed, pulling me again in his arms and twirled me around making me laugh at his actions. I smiled, turning towards our friends who are looking at us with folded arms.

"I can so imagine how they showed their PDA before her Dad." Mehrin commented shaking her head.

"I don't know what is wrong with us. Same thing happened near his Mom and again near my Dad." I said shaking my head.

"What? What happened?" Chitra asked, looking at us and I just shrugged smirking.

"So, he is no longer your one week boyfriend?" Rohan asked looking at me.

"She told you each word?" I asked, laughing and he nodded smiling.

"Now, his torture will increase." He said, shaking his head sighing.

"By the way, my Dad accepted him because of you." I said looking at him.

"Really? Wow! I am really helping you both so much. Because of my plan you are together and now even Uncle liked him because of me. But, how?" he asked, frowning.

"I told him how it is all your fault for whatever happened in the past. So, now he is angry at you instead of Karthik." I replied in a serious tone.

"What? I don't want your cool Dad to hate me." He mumbled groaning and I laughed seeing his expression.

"You are always number one in getting tortured by me, Rohan." I assured him and he frowned at me.

"You have changed, Rashmi. Because I was your favorite and you never used to get angry because of me, but now you are torturing me like this." He complained but I just shrugged and felt Karthik's hand around my waist.

We all spent some time together before everyone left even Kalyan to drop Chitra while I stayed back when Karthik said we need to work on the things we couldn't during this week.

"So, what should we work on?" I asked, following him to his room where the documents are.

"Do you really think I want to work right now after missing you during this week?" he asked, looking at me and I smiled circling my hands around his neck.

"I can easily expect that from you, Karthik." I replied smiling.

"You are so wrong." He mumbled pressing his lips to mine and we kissed, but made sure we locked the door to his room to not have a repeat incident. I couldn't be happier knowing my Dad doesn't have any problem with Karthik now and I am sure they will grow closer when they meet again.